Name

Grameen Trust

Legal name

Grameen Trust

Website

https://grameentrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microfinance and Social Business Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets (BPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA), Microenterprise Group Lending (Joint Liability) (FSAKAGAH)

Keywords

• Microfinance services
• Social business programs
• Microcredit replication
• Equity investment programs
• Poverty alleviation NGO

Headquarters

HQ city

Mirpur

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Equity Investment Returns: GT invests equity in social businesses and Nobin Udyokta (New Entrepreneur) projects. Returns come as principal repayment and technical assistance cost recovery from profitable businesses.
2. Training and Technical Assistance Services: GT provides comprehensive training on Grameen Bank innovations, including Grameen II, Flexible Loans, Microenterprise Financing, Delinquency Management, Loan Insurance Savings Program, and Internal Control. Also offers consultancy services to organizations setting up poverty-focused microfinance programs.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation Services: GT conducts both onsite and offsite monitoring through evaluating monthly, quarterly and other reports of partner projects, providing technical assistance and audit services.
4. Donor Funding and Grants: As a non-profit NGO, GT channels financial and technical support from international donors to microcredit practitioners worldwide.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grameen Trust is a non-profit NGO that implements poverty-alleviation programs by providing collateral-free microcredit, equity investment in social businesses, and training/technical assistance for replicating the Grameen Bank methodology worldwide. Its products target poor women entrepreneurs and youth (Nobin Udyokta) directly through microcredit and equity partnerships, while also offering replication support to microfinance NGOs and government institutions across 44 countries.

Product overview

Grameen Trust operates as a non-profit organization focused on poverty alleviation through social business and microfinance programs. Its product portfolio consists of five interconnected core programs: the Social Business Program (providing equity investment to social business ventures including IT solutions, rural financing, and employment for the visually impaired), the Grameen Bank Replication Program (supporting worldwide microcredit replication via various implementation models), the Nobin Equity Program (supporting second-generation entrepreneurs through equity partnerships), the Grameen Dialogue Program (providing immersion training for potential replicators), and Training Workshop & Other Programs (offering capacity building, monitoring, technical assistance, and networking services). These programs work together to advance the organization's mission of achieving zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social Business Program A program that supports social business initiatives through equity investment, including Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd. (IT solutions for rural entrepreneurs), Grameen Shakti Samajik Byabosa Ltd. (cook stoves and financing for rural entrepreneurs), and Grameen Trust Sampan Development Ltd. (employment for visually impaired individuals). Targeted at poverty-focused social business ventures in Bangladesh and internationally.
• Grameen Bank Replication Program A worldwide program promoting the Grameen Bank Approach through financial and technical support to replication projects, operating via Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Build-Operate-Manage (BOM), and Build-Operate-Own (BOO) models. Targeted at microfinance NGOs and partner organizations in 44 countries.
• Nobin Equity Program (New Entrepreneurs Program) An innovative social business initiative designed for the second generation of Grameen families, turning unemployment into entrepreneurship through partnership-based equity investment in new entrepreneurs (Nobin Udyokta). As of April 2026, 82,358 projects have been supported with BDT 8,868.30 million (USD 88.53 million) invested, creating approximately 52,000 additional jobs.
• Grameen Dialogue Program A two-week interactive field visit program providing deep understanding of Social Business and Grameen Bank concepts for potential replicators, including international and national dialogue sessions. Targeted at organizations and individuals seeking to replicate the Grameen methodology in their countries.
• Training Workshop & Other Programs Comprehensive training programs on Grameen Bank innovations, workshops, monitoring and evaluation, technical assistance, audit services, consultancy, and networking through the Grameen Global Network (GGN). Targeted at microfinance organizations and partners globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% loan repayment rate across global operations
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and supporting.

• Yunus Social Business, BrazilstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Yunus Social Business Brazil invited Grameen Trust to conduct a feasibility study for microcredit replication in Brazil. GT's General Manager conducted field visits in São Paulo and Fortaleza in April 2026 to assess potential for Grameen-style microcredit implementation.
• Grameen Crédit Agricole Microfinance FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Co-organized the first-ever Grameen Trust global Family Gathering in Paris on February 11-12, 2026, bringing together 62 representatives from 25 partner organizations across 17 countries. Hosted at Crédit Agricole Group headquarters, the event focused on strategic partnership, ethical finance, and collective leadership in advancing inclusive finance and development.
• Nobin Entrepreneurs (New Entrepreneurs)coreOthers · 6 November 2025Nobin entrepreneurs are the primary beneficiaries of GT's Nobin Equity Program. GT invests equity jointly with these entrepreneurs (children of Grameen Bank members) to start or expand businesses. As of April 2026, 82,358 projects have been supported.
• Embassy of the People's Republic of China in BangladeshsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Chinese Embassy jointly facilitated the Grameen Delegation Exchange Visit Program in China from July 21-25, 2025, enabling knowledge exchange between Grameen Bank and Grameen Shangdu.
• Integrated Development Foundation (IDF), NepalstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2025IDF collaborated with GT to organize specialized training on Nobin Program for a nine-member delegation from five leading Nepalese microcredit institutions (CSD, Chhimek, Swabalamban, Samata, Shrijanshil) in April 2025.
• Yunus CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2024Yunus Centre, led by the Executive Director, collaborates with GT on organizing annual Social Business Day events and supporting partner organizations globally. Jointly participated in NWTF's 40th anniversary in Philippines in June 2024.
• Albanian American Development Foundation (AADF)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2024AADF, established in 2009, is introducing Grameen microcredit model in Albania. GT conducted feasibility study in March 2024 across Kukes and Elbasan regions, engaging with Bank of Albania, Albanian Microfinance Association, and local micro-entrepreneurs. AADF is preparing to launch the program in Albania.
• Yunus ThailandstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Yunus Thailand, founded in 2020, is dedicated to promoting Professor Muhammad Yunus's principles and fostering social business ecosystem in Thailand. GT conducted a feasibility study in Bangkok and multiple districts in February 2024, finding strong potential for microcredit program implementation.
• Rural Development Institute (RDI), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration dates back to 1993 when RDI initiated academic and field-level engagement with GT to explore adaptation of microfinance and social business in China. RDI-led delegation visited GT in July 2025 to discuss Three Zeros goals.
• Chongho Bridge Group Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Chongho Bridge Group Ltd. manages Grameen Shangdu Microcredit Co., Ltd., a direct implementation project of GT launched in 2011 in Shangdu County, Inner Mongolia, China. GT deployed resource persons to design, establish, and train local staff. As of June 2025, Grameen Shangdu has served over 10,000 members with 99.6% repayment rate.
• Grameen ShakticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2010GT jointly established Grameen Shakti Samajik Byabosa Ltd. (GSSB) in December 2010 to provide improved cook stoves and capital to rural entrepreneurs. Also partnered to establish Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd. in May 2009 with Intel Corp.
• Intel Corp, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2009GT partnered with Intel Corp to establish Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd. in May 2009, providing affordable information technology solutions to rural entrepreneurs as a social business.
• Grameen Kosovo (KGMAMF)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 June 2000Grameen Kosovo was established in June 2000 with financial assistance from Missione Arcobaleno and technical support from GT. In 23 years, it has reached 24,968 members and disbursed €117.78 million as microloans. GT replicates Nobin Program in Kosovo through this partner.
• Grameen BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Grameen Bank, founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus, is the original institution whose methodology GT supports replicating globally. GT collaborates closely with Grameen Bank for training, workshops, and monitoring of replication projects.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian and economic-development NGO operating across 40+ countries with a portfolio that includes youth entrepreneurship and financial inclusion programs. Comparable as a non-profit that runs multi-country donor-funded programs targeting poverty and serves some of the same women/youth segments, but with a much broader mandate beyond microcredit.

Direct peers

• Grameen Bank: Bangladesh-based microfinance bank founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus in 1983 that originated the Grameen methodology Grameen Trust replicates and supports. They share the same founder, methodology, and primary customer segment of poor women, and GT's entire operating model extends from the bank.
• FINCA International: Global microfinance network operating a village-banking methodology across ~20 countries in Latin America, Africa, and Eurasia. Closely parallels GT's model of operating community-level lending through local partner institutions and offering technical assistance to entrepreneurs.
• Pro Mujer: Latin American women-focused microfinance and health platform serving ~2M low-income women across Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Colombia. Directly comparable customer (poor women entrepreneurs), overlapping microcredit product, and NGO/grant-supported model.
• Accion International: Global nonprofit microfinance and fintech-for-the-underserved network active across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Operates a comparable model of supporting local MFIs and pioneering inclusive-finance methodology, and competes for donor and government partnerships for the same end-borrower.
• Grameen America: US replication of the Grameen methodology, founded by Yunus in 2008, focused on women micro-entrepreneurs across 27 US cities. Runs the same collateral-free group-lending model that GT supports through BOT/BOM/BOO, serving an overlapping customer persona with the same methodology.
• BRAC: One of the world's largest development NGOs with significant microfinance and social-business programs in Bangladesh and globally. Highly comparable as a Bangladesh-rooted, multi-program NGO that combines microcredit with health, education, and youth employment - serving similar customers (poor women, youth) with overlapping inclusive-finance tools.
• Opportunity International: Global microfinance network serving ~17M clients with small-business credit and savings across 20+ developing countries. Comparable as a faith-based NGO that disburses microloans to underserved entrepreneurs through partner institutions - overlapping target customer (poor women) and product (microcredit).
• Grameen Crédit Agricole Microfinance Foundation: European foundation co-founded with Crédit Agricole to support microfinance institutions sharing Grameen values. Direct strategic partner of GT (co-organized the 2026 Paris Family Gathering), with near-identical end-clients, same Grameen-aligned methodology, and shared social-business donor base.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Online crowdfunding platform that channels crowdfunded capital (often at 0% interest) to microfinance institutions and individual entrepreneurs in ~80 countries. Comparable end-customer (underserved micro-entrepreneurs) and partner-network distribution, but uses a digital crowdfunding mechanism rather than GT's direct-investment/thin-margin model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/professormuhammadyunus
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grameen Trust